1977 Warre's Vintage Port

[Andy Velebil]

Took this to a wine offline last saturday to share with those who appreciate Port. Decanted about 3 hours, rebottled, then drunk about 6 hours later. I didn't take any formal notes so here are some general impressions. Showing some heat on the nose and palate and just a little more advanced development than normal for this Port. Yet still had a soft perfumed nose, dried cherries, and some light tannins poking through. Not an on-par bottle, but still enjoyable and the bottle didn't last but maybe 45 minutes before it was gone.

89 Points

[Roy Hersh]

Wow, that does sound odd. When you mentioned it was gone in 45 minutes, I assume you mean "consumed" and not as if it had vanished by going over the hill. I find many of these W77 fully mature or just short of that, but still in a beautiful place. I can't think of any Port that I've had more of, because these used to cost me $29 when it was my house VP for many years. I have a soft spot for this wine but think its best days have past, although occasionally I come across that rare bottle which still shows a bit younger that most and I like that better. For most, they're on a pretty long plateau and should stay there for another decade or so. Just my two cents.

[Andy Velebil]

Yes consumed, as in we drank it right quick. I've generally been lucky I guess, as I've had good luck with prior bottles of this Port still being youthful.

[Roy Hersh]

Even when mature, this is typically on a long plateau and so it shows quite nicely and for a 1977 is a bit more advanced than some others but really soft and elegant. Love it!

[John Danza]

Here are my notes from a bottle opened this weekend. The cork is the likely culprit for the notes on this bottle. It doesn't sound much different from Andy's.

• 1977 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (7/24/2011)
  The cork on this bottle was seeping a tad, but the fill was base neck. Double decanted 24 hours ahead of service. On initial opening, color was a light red with brown tinges, and the palate was very hot with alcohol. When served 24 hours later, the color hadn't really changed. However, the alcohol had burned off quite a bit and did so completely once in the glass. Very good sweetness with a touch of dryness on the finish. A very nice wine that's perhaps a little on the downhill side of fully mature. (87 pts.)

[Andy Velebil]

Here are my notes from a bottle opened this weekend. The cork is the likely culprit for the notes on this bottle. It doesn't sound much different from Andy's.

• 1977 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (7/24/2011)
  The cork on this bottle was seeping a tad, but the fill was base neck. Double decanted 24 hours ahead of service. On initial opening, color was a light red with brown tinges, and the palate was very hot with alcohol. When served 24 hours later, the color hadn't really changed. However, the alcohol had burned off quite a bit and did so completely once in the glass. Very good sweetness with a touch of dryness on the finish. A very nice wine that's perhaps a little on the downhill side of fully mature. (87 pts.)

Thanks for the note. I've found lots of bottle variations for many producers Ports in 1977 and IMO the corks are most likely the culprit.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I'm surprised to hear that the '77 Warre's "best days have passed" and is "on the downhill side". The last time I had it (admittedly almost 8 years ago and it had only a few hours decant) I thought it was still backward.

I had been thinking of opening one of my few '77s in the not too distant future and had to decide between the Sandeman and Warre's. I chose the Sandeman's but now you have me second guessing. Any thoughts?

Mahmoud

[Roy Hersh]

1977 Warre's is a solid bottling but I don't find them "youthful" anymore. That said, they're typically very soft and elegant and very ready to drink now.

The 1977 Sandeman VP is very good. I've had two bottles in the past fourteen months and have enjoyed them quite a bit. I think they will have a longer life than the Warre's but we'll see how that pans out. Not a great Port, but definitely a fine sipper today.

[Lamont Huxley]

I was also a little surprised to read some of the previous comments on this one. I only had this VP once in '07 and it struck me as a wine that was in a beautiful spot between youthful fruit and mature characteristics. These were the notes I wrote:

Still a fairly rich burgundy in color with a nose of warm plums, figs, and chocolate covered cherries with a touch of spice (doesn't really come off as a 30+ year old wine!). The palate shows beautiful balance and great concentration - it's lush with raspberry and blackberry jam, vanilla, anise, and tar - lots of finesse and an almost creamy texture. It reminds me very much of the excellent 94 Warre's, but with that extra level of complexity due it's age.

Perhaps I just had a particularly well stored example?

[Roy Hersh]

You have to love when that happens.